Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Eric: Before we get into the Phils system I want to get your thoughts on the front office and the general decision making that’s gone on since Pat Gillick stepped down. I realize there’s a lot that GMs do that outsiders can’t see or begin to appreciate, but this is becoming worrisome. What are your thoughts?

Keith: In general, I think the front office’s decisions have been below average – some good, but more that ended up hurting the team somehow. I still can’t quite fathom their pride in their refusal to use any kind of analytics in their decision-making. When your competitors are operating 12-man analytics departments, why would you brag about how you don’t have one at all?

Eric: Do you think that stems from one source, be it ownership or Amaro himself? Or do you think there’s a thread of anti-intellectualism that runs through the whole organization? (Eric’s note: I’ve only ever talked to one scout that I thought was a complete dolt, and he proudly wore it on his sleeve. I asked him who he scouted for. His answer? The Phillies. That’s why I asked Keith this question.)

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Eric: I frequently hear from scouts that jobs in baseball keep them away from their wives and children. How strenuous was your front office work schedule in Toronto and how do you balance your life now that your job is different but you still like to see players in person as often as you can?

Keith: I don’t have to go into an office every day or even semi-regularly now, so nearly all of my travel is seeing players. I’m out about half as many nights as a cross-checker would be each year, although living in Arizona has kept that number down artificially. When I’m home, I usually drop my daughter off at school in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon. I would miss that terribly if I returned to a team.

Is there a rule that whenever Gillick leaves the organization has to have major issues? Left the Jays, Gord Ash came in and blew it big time, no playoffs since. Left Baltimore and a decade plus of sub-500 finishes followed. Left Seattle, just twice reached 500 since. Left Philly, they did make the playoffs 3 times but interesting how it went...from WS champs with Gillick, lost WS the next year, lost in NLCS the next, lost in division series the next, missed playoffs last year (500 team), will they be sub-500 this year? Just keeps going down a step each season.

Guess he uses everything up and when he is done, the team is done. With Philly he did leave it in a better place than ever before but clearly the legacy is dying off.